ABC TV Station provided the halftime statistics for both teams.
On the Celtics side, Tim Duncan shot 1 for 8 in the first half, scoring only 2 points, and Yao Ming's defense was unexpectedly effective against him.
Whether Duncan was underestimating his opponent or just in poor form is unclear—his performance against Gan in the previous two games wasn't this poor, yet facing Yao Ming, he seemed completely off his game, committing several basic errors.
Steve Nash scored 7 points but only had 2 assists; moreover, on defense, he was relentlessly targeted by Andre Miller, which was likely a key reason the Celtics were suppressed by Glory in the first half.
Compared to his college days, Nash's defense has improved significantly.
After joining the Celtics, Bobby Berman spent considerable time correcting and developing Nash's defensive skills.
Unfortunately, Nash really lacks defensive talent—his physical condition isn't bad, but his strengths are all tied to offense.
